Author's Note: Now you should all know, that by now, I don't update frequently like I should. I don't mean this, but sometimes I'm just too busy or inspiration hasn't yet struck. So I thank you for you're patience.
Disclaimer: do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, it's characters, the lyrics of "how you remind me"-Nickelback
Reviews!Setalina Muro: Thanks! beams you've made my day! Yes I know I did make the slang weird, meh! I'm not saying Seto isn't 'intelligent, interesting and charming', okay well I am…But! That may change…soon…he he he any way thanks! And I hope that you enjoy this (prolonged) update!
Miss Doma Yuset: thanks for reviewing! I'm not sure when I'll start to make that happen, maybe sometime soon…. you'll just have to keep reading to find out! gives cheeky grin glad you like Derek! I love him too! Tar!
Glastea: thanks for reviewing! Glad you like! I don't think I've made Kaiba seem that "evil" as you put it, heartless a little, but not really evil, if I did, I didn't mean to…..thanks anyway, I'll take that into account when I'm writing his character, which is what I tried to do for this chapter, I hope this is a bit better. Thanks for the review, you made my day with the last sentence!
KatrinaKaiba: thanks so much! I'm glad that you like Derek so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Danny'sGhostGirl: glad you enjoy that story…hope you like this chapter!
fanfiction addiction fan: thanks for reviewing! It's okay, the main thing is that I got your review! I'm glad your so into this story, smiles anyway hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 10
10pm
A loud sigh of lost hope and regret, can be heard, in the dark, spacious room that was Seto Kaiba's office. The man himself, was slumped, his body dejected of any energy, in his large black, leather chair, in front of a large, curtain less, window. In his right hand was a glass; half empty of some alcoholic liquid, in the left was a framed photograph, probably about four or five years old.
He took a sip of the drink, grimacing at how strong it was.
He shut his eyes for a moment, breathing in deeply, and then once again opening them.
Using the light of the moon behind him, he stared at the photograph. Looking back at him appeared to be a one-year-old image of himself, only it wasn't.
In the photograph, the lean, muscular arms of Mokuba were wrapped around the tiny form of Derek, who was giving the camera one of those cute, wide, baby-smiles, while reaching out a hand to the camera.
Seto remembered this day as if it had just happened. Derek had been reaching out to him, laughing a giggling at the camera. Pulling faces and throwing bits of cake at an expensive vase of his mothers. To which Seto was very glad that he broke; he hated the ugly thing.
His mother on the other hand had thrown a tantrum and stormed off to her room. Only to be coaxed out when Derek wouldn't stop crying for her. Even when she did come out, she held him away from her, passing him to other people when she could.
It wasn't that she didn't love Derek in her own way. It was just that she wasn't "mother-material"; she was a very self-indulgent woman.
Seto sighed and shifted in his seat; closing his eyes, he let the memories come back.
He'd met her at some high-class, boring, charity event that Mokuba had asked him to go to. She was in the middle of everything, flirting and enjoying the attention of many of the men, married and single, there.
She'd come over to him and starting to talk, and flirt a little. He'd just given her the cold shoulder and some flat conversation, but that didn't detour her. She asked after him for about a month or so, before he finally gave up and went out with her.
On one particular date he'd asked why him?
She'd just replied with, "I need to be saved…and so do you.." and with that he'd realised that she never really loved him or lusted after him, only that she needed to be looked after, which he could certainly do better than any of those other fools she'd been flirting with, without asking really for anything in return. Also he didn't want to die alone. Plus his might boast his reputation. So after about a year or so, they became engaged, then married.
The relationship itself wasn't intimate, affectionate nor a friendship, merely tolerance for one another and physical needs.
When she became pregnant, Seto was happy, though he didn't show it. He was glad that now he was going to have an heir to the company that his brother had made clear he didn't want to run.
When Mokuba found out he was jumping around, shouting "I'm gonna be an uncle! I'm gonna be an uncle!"
She'd just smiled at his antics, getting on better with him, than her own husband.
When Derek was born, it was one of the best days of Seto's life, especially when he'd realised that Derek resembled him in all his physical attributes. For he was a very vain man.
He only hoped that Derek would also mimic him in his business sense and not waste half his time and money on petty, self-indulgent, little things, like his mother.
Seto's head lolled to the side, his head nuzzling the leather lightly.
Only three years later that same woman would do such a stupid thing as to not pay attention on the road whistle behind the wheel. Her tiny, sports car running through a supposed "clear intersection", only to be cleaned up by a big truck coming the other way. She'd died on impact.
Although Seto'd never loved her in the way that he should've, considering he was her husband, he'd felt a great pang of sadness, guilt (for both himself and Derek) and anger. He was angry with himself. Angry for letting himself get "close" to someone that had ended up dieing anyway. Much like his parents. It was the same scenario all over again.
That's why he suddenly became so distant with Derek and a little with his own brother. It hurt too much to think that he could lose them both so easily like he'd lost Derek's mother and his parents. Seto'd believed that he was protecting both Derek and Mokuba, by been so cold, not letting them (try to) get so attached (Derek mainly). So when death did come, they would not feel as hopeless and lost as he had.
Though Seto knew deep down, that he was only protecting himself. He was scared of losing them, so he didn't want to "know" them.
He'd strained his relationship with Mokuba. And Derek, well there just wasn't one.
"It's too late to change…." Seto mumbled, draining his glass. Coughing at the burning sensation that came as the liquid ran down his throat. The CEO closed his eyes and tilted his head back, drifted off. Letting his glass fall on the soft carpet; it's residue seeping out into the carpet.
"And this is how you remind me-e-e-e-e…. of what I real-ly am…"
Derek laughed lightly and rolled his eyes. Miss Saberhagan was currently in the shower, which she apparently liked to sing in, which wasn't so bad….
"It's not like you to say sor-ry… was waiting on a differ-ent stor-y… this time I'm mist-aken… FOR HANDL-ING YOU A HEART WORTH BREAK-ING!"
Derek flinched. "So long as she sings quietly and on key." He finished out loud. Never the less, he smiled and rubbed his hair with the towel he was holding.
They'd gone for milkshakes, ended up missing the last bus back into town and had to run in the sudden downpour that had occurred. They'd ran at least a couple of blocks, before waving down a taxi and headed back to Chloe's place.
Derek heard the water cut out, only to be replaced by the rumble of the ancient dryer, which currently held all his previously soaked clothing.
Chloe had lent him an old men's work shirt, and an old pair of comfortable socks until his clothing was dry.
The clothing in question had been residing in an old cardboard box that had
"J. Saberhagan" scrawled untidily on it. When he'd asked who "J. Saberhagan" was, Chloe just given him a small, wavering smile and turned from him.
He'd finished drying his hair and grabbed the warm blanket he'd been given and wrapped it around him tightly, making his way over to the small wood fire, sitting in front of it. Staring hypnotically into it.
"Is the fire really that interesting?"
Derek jumped a little, and then relaxed when Chloe can into view. Chloe merely smiled, before chucking her damp towel onto the couch and setting up the ironing board she'd drag out.
She disappeared for a moment more, returning with a basket of warm clothes from the dyer and an iron.
Derek got up and shuffled over, peering into the basket.
"It's really not necessary…."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…. I'm not the sort of person who doesn't finish what they started, Derek."
Derek bowed his head, blushing.
A sigh was heard.
"Look Derek. Sorry. I guess it's just a defence mechanism…" she gave him a crooked smile.
Derek's head was still bowed.
"Hey…" She walked around and bobbed down to his level, lifting his chin with her hand. She stared straight into his azure eyes.
"I work, and I work hard. I'm not satisfied until the job is done, and is done properly. Most of my life, people think that I have just sat back and done nothing, and what jobs I did, were thought to be cra-not good. But I used to do most of it, and well, let other's take the credit for them…"
"Why?"
"That's what family do for each other, look out for each other. Love makes you do things for some, that you wouldn't dream of for others." She smiled, her eyes watering slightly.
" So, I'm sorry Derek, I didn't mean anything by that comment. It's…just a way of protecting myself."
Derek blinked a few times, and then put his arms around her neck hugging her, fiercely. She responded much the same way, pulling his small body close to hers, closing her eyes to prevent the flow of tears that suddenly threatened to spill out.
"Damn, I'm going soft…I haven't cried in years What's this kid doing to me?." She thought to herself, glad that no one on earth could read minds.
The hug ended, both parties pulling away from each other, a bit sheepish at the sudden display of emotions.
Derek gave a weak smile and shivered slightly.
"I'd better get you a hot drink…" Chloe stood up and hurried to the kitchen to busy herself there for a while.
After drinks were drunk, clothes ironed and put on and animated conversation and laughter had followed, a quick "I'd better get you back home soon." Shattered the day's happy illusions for Derek.
He'd reluctantly nodded and gotten into her blue car that had been earlier returned by a young blue-eyed, blonde haired woman of 20 or so who'd rudely stared at Derek, before been ushered away by Chloe with a quiet "We'll talk of this later, Becky."
Knock, knock, knock
The figure of Seto Kaiba stirred slightly in his sleep, not waking.
Knock, knock, knock
A groan escaped his lips, him half sleeping, half awake.
Knock, knock, knock
A louder groan escaped the man, while his eyes opened slightly into slits.
Knock, knock, knock
"Is that my head or the door…?" the CEO mumbled, one hand supporting his head, the other rubbing his eyes.
Knock, knock, knock
"No it's the door…" he got up, staggering slightly and walked purposely out of the room, to the source of the noise.
Knock, knock, kno-
The noise abruptly stopped as Seto was descending the stairs
"Yes? How may I-…. MASTER DEREK! Where? Why? What have…?" stuttered an elderly butler. Not exactly sure what to make of the scene before his eyes of his master's son and a strange woman.
The young boy gave a small sheepish grin, which quickly disappeared when his eyes met the blackening face of the elderly man before him.
"Well-…" started Derek painfully.
"MILTON!" came a sharp, deadly bark from behind the said man.
The elderly servant Milton turned around quickly a jumped a little when met with the dark features of the greatly feared Seto Kaiba
"Y-ye-s s-sir?" stumbled the man.
"Go to bed. I will handle this." His voice was low and dangerous, letting there not be a second thought in Milton's head as he disappeared very quickly into the shadows of the mansion.
Seto then turned towards the door.
"Where were you Derek?" he asked in a monotone voice; eyes boring straight into the boy.
"Well-…I-I was out-…. remember you said…said that I could…" Derek mumbled with his head bowed, trying to escape his fathers staring.
"Where?" Seto once again stated.
"With me."
"And who are you?" Seto asked, sneering slightly down at the short woman.
"I'm…." she glanced briefly at Derek, seeing him nod his head, she continued. "Derek's friend, Brock's mother. The boys had been spending the day with me at a duel monsters tournament and we got caught in a sudden freak downpour. I didn't realise how late it was, otherwise I would have brought Derek home earlier. Sorry."
She released a breath she didn't know that she'd been holding when he simply nodded, the liquor previously consumed calming him.
A few awkward minutes of silenced passed before Chloe nodded.
"Well Mr Kaiba, it's been a pleasure meeting you. But it's late, and Derek and I do need some sleep, as you look like you do too." She extended her hand, and they shook.
"Do I know you?" Seto asked, a puzzled expression on his face. " I do believe that I've met or at least heard of you before…."
"Not unless Derek's mentioned me before, I don't think so, Mr Kaiba." She smiled and broke the handshake. "Well good night."
She bent down to Derek's level, smiled and then shook his hand. "I guess I'll see you soon, Derek. Bye and good night."
And with that she walked off.
Yes okay weird I know….but hey! I UPDATED! Yes miracles do happen. Well hope you enjoy and JA NE!
